Part One: Downsize

Well, I promised to share some news, so here goes. We are moving. Actually, downsizing. Actually, almost micro sizing, compared to where we’ve been. My current house is a dis.as.ter with boxes everywhere and things collecting for garage sales, Goodwill, and Craig’s List.

This is very bittersweet for us. Bitter in that we built our home, that it fits our family of nine, that is has been–for the last ten years–home. Sweet in that we are getting out of expenses that are too much for us, both in time and money. I can’t believe I am actually going to move with seven children in tow.

This is what we are leaving. Our 3800 square foot home (not counting the attic and basement, which would bring it closer to 5000 square feet), nestled in five acres of private woods at the end of a half mile of gravel road. It’s a big, wonderful house in a beautiful and quiet setting. It has four bathrooms.

This is where we are moving to. To a home that’s shy of 1700 square feet (with no basement nor attic), in an open area with several neighbors on a side street that isn’t too quiet–we can hear the whooshing cars on the highway nearby. It’s a bungalow built in 1950, and has had a lot of work done on it: new roof, septic, plumbing, electrical. We still need to do some work before we move in; the upstairs bedrooms are unfinished. But we will have the house in May and we can get started then. Oh, and it only has one bathroom.

This is what I’m trading my woods for: an open sunny area with a beautiful mountain view. The property sits on an acre, so there is room for both gardens and some livestock. The original owners were amazing landscapers and gardeners–the plants excited me long before I saw the interior of the house! I am looking forward to ample sunlight for my gardens.

We have lots more to share about this process we’re going through. If you haven’t subscribed to our podcast yet, make sure to do so! And part two is next!

Blessings,

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Good for you guys! We made a similar move two years ago, although not on quite so grand a scale. Our house was about the size of your new one but with me staying home, the mortgage was just too big, and we could literally do nothing besides eat and pay the bills. So we sold it and went back to renting, and we love it. My husband is “un-handy” and hates yard work, so he loves that if something breaks, we just call maintenance, and the lawn care is taken care of too. I love that we can afford to do things like put our kids in classes, go on small trips, and even little things like being able to stock up on canned goods other staples when they’re on sale (we could only buy as needed in our old house). Our oldest daughter still remembers the old house, which was on a busy road (basically a 4 land highway 15 feet from her bedroom), and she comments every once in a while how loud it was and how quiet it is here.

I remember the first day we moved in, I lay down on the empty living room floor, stared up at the ceiling, and just thought “we did it. We’re actually here.”. I’m sure you’ll have that kind of peace in your heart on moving day too